Koo App as a multilingual micro-blogging platform encourages the sharing of ideas and opinions in 10 languages on a wide range of different preferences. Like sports, entertainment, poetry and spirituality, politics on the platform attracts a lot of attention from users and creators, who engage in open debate, conversation and discussion with leaders and political parties in real time. The activities on the Ku app have seen a rapid increase before and during the 2022 assembly elections in five states. Leaders and political parties posted extensively on the Ku app to attract voters and connect with them in their local language. The importance of social media platforms increased even more when election rallies were directed to be made online due to the Corona pandemic.
However, there is often an increase in the number of misinformation and fake news on social media about candidates and political parties usually during voting and counting, which can lead to excitement and abuse for social media users. Misinformation not only interferes with the smooth conduct of the electoral process but also seriously affects the confidence of voters in a participatory democracy.
As a neutral, transparent and credible platform, Ku App is committed to free and fair elections and follows the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI). Reiterating this commitment, Ku App has introduced several innovative mechanisms that collectively work towards preventing the spread of misinformation and misinformation during elections, while increasing voter literacy and trust in the electoral process.
Kuo encourages the free flow of information and dialogue for content creators to build a positive social ecosystem, fostering creativity and innovation. To empower users, especially first-time users to curate more great content, Koo App has made its Community Guidelines available in all 10 languages on the platform. These guidelines are in accordance with the Indian context and opinion and give details of practices permitted or prohibited online with specific reference to fake news and misinformation. These guidelines sensitize users to verify the reliability of information before sharing it and also avoid calling the information ‘fake’ without sufficient evidence for the same.
As a social media intermediary that only hosts and transmits Content shared by Users, unless required by law, Ku App does not assess the accuracy of the Information or the Content in any way does not interfere. Kuo is committed to providing users with a secure, reliable and reliable interface thus enabling users to access reputable third-party resources for fact-checking purposes. These fact-checkers listed on the platform provide their services in multiple languages to benefit Ku users across the country.
Ku does not endorse any fact-checkers and users should read and understand the policies on how fact-checkers are initiated. Since fake news is often spread by bots or spam accounts, the Ku app continuously monitors and restricts the activities of such accounts to limit misinformation. As of 15 February 2022, over 1450 such accounts posing as a news channel or journalist or related to news in any way have been banned for spam or inappropriate content.
To keep online conversations related to elections secure, Ku has adopted a ‘Voluntary Code of Conduct’ by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). This code is for fair and ethical use of social media during elections. By adopting this Code, by ensuring accountability as a responsible social media platform, Ku assures users of its commitment to safe and fair elections. Koo is dedicated to every letter and spirit of the Code and follows the instructions of the Election Commission of India to limit any violation of the Electoral Code. To fulfill its commitment to a voluntary code of conduct, Koo has also supported voter awareness campaigns, including VoteWallSelfie, VoteWalllove, Pledge to Vote, and these have found significant engagement on the platform.
Ku has put in place a robust grievance redressal mechanism through a Resident Grievance Officer. Through this mechanism, the platform ensures prompt action for the issues raised, including cases related to fake news, within 24 hours. In addition, Koo’s content moderation action is in compliance with Indian laws and takes a nuanced approach, actively handling content that does not comply with existing guidelines, thereby promoting security and transparency on the platform. Get.
In January 2022, for the first time, the platform released the Ku Voters Guide to empower voters with an understanding of their rights and responsibilities and to increase public confidence in elections. This guide focuses on the fundamental rights of the Indian voter enshrined in the Constitution of India and analyzes the responsibilities that voters need to consider before and after casting their vote. This reflects the efforts of Ku App as a transparent, fair and credible social media intermediary to increase voter awareness and build more confidence in the electoral process. Being a multilingual platform, this guide is available in English, Marathi, Punjabi and English to benefit the voters of all the electoral states.
